Method of raising the specific gravity and flash-points of liquids



UNETJEZD @lllQE.

LINDON WALLACE earns, or MOUNT LEBANON, new roan.

METHQD 0F RAISING- I'HE SPECIFIC GRAVITY AND FLASH-POINTS 0F ZIQU'ID$ 1x10 Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it knownthat I, LINnoN W Barns, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Mount Lebanon, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Raising the Specific Gravity and Flash-Points of Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to a process for increasing the safety of liquid fuel against fire, either for a short or for a long period of time, by raising its specific gravity so that it will support water and by raising its flash point, in some cases above the preheat temperature necessary for proper atomization. Nearly all the oils now used for fuel purposes are lighter than water and float upon it. A few tars used for fuel purposes are-heavier than water, but the oils are the chief liquid fuels. It is well to bear in mind'that specific gravity is usually expressed in decimals, the gravity of water at 62 F. being taken as unity. To represent specific gravity, or rather density, of .oils the Baum scale is frequently used. There are two Baum scales, one for liquids lighter than Water and the other for those heavier. Tn the case-of fuel oils the first of these Baum scales is naturally employed; The first scale falls as the gravity rises while the second scale rises with gravity. The Mechanical Engineers Pocket-B0070, Kent, 1900, p. 165.) The following is a partial list of typical fuel oils showing their gravity in decimals and according to the Baum scale, their flash point in a closed cup, and their Weight per gallon expressed in pounds.

Flash 4 Weight S ecific De tees ouit Kind of 011. p g per gal ravlt Beaum. enskyg y Martens). lbs

Panuco, Intel-ocean Oil Co. .986 12.0 124 F. (8.22) California Producers crude, union on 00 .959 16.1 174 F. (8.00) Mexican crude, Texas 00... .952 17.3 126 F. (7.94) Louisiana, S1111 Oil Co .936 19.8 275 F. (7.80) Beaumont, Texas, Gulf Reflnin C .907 24.8 222 F. (7.55) Standar Illinois .893 27.3 146 F. (7.43 "Standard, Indiana .880 29.6 144 F. (7.33 "Standard, crude, Lima,

Ohio .876 30.4 149 F. (7.29)

(Efice'ency in the Use of Fuel Oil, Wadsworth, U. S. Department of the Interior Pamphlet, 1918, chart opposite p. at.)

Fresh water of specific gravity 1.0 weighs Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 6, 11921..

Application filed November 10, 1919. Serial 1 10. 336,918.

upon Water in modern communities and factories are mostly equipped with sprinkler systems employing the same quenching medium. urthermore, the flash point of many of these oils is so low that they have to be heated above their flash point in order to flow properly and to atomize or spray wlt-h existing apparatus and burners. Tn order to be atomizable an oil must be reduced to a viscosity of from 8 to 15 Engler. In the case of high gravity oils this may mean a heat of from 170 F. to 230 F, and even higher, which is often above the flash point.

The present invention proposes to raise th specific gravity of a combustible liquid for fuel purposes to such a point that it may be kept under a water seal, and that a fire consuming it may be quenched with water,

and further that the flash point may be raised, in some cases even above the necessary preheat temperature. The invention consists in the addition to the liquid in a proper fashion of pulverized carbonaceous substance so as to produce a composite whose gravity is sufficiently above that of water, and whose flash point is higher than that of the oil base. The duration of the heavier gravity and higher flash point may be extremely short or prolonged depending upon the treatment given. It has been found that even a small margin of gravity of the composite over thatof water will enable the combustible and the water layers to remain separate and the water to take its position uppermost. If, therefore, a suflicient and variable quantity of pulverized carbonaceous substance, whose specific gravity is higher than that of water, is added to the liquid combustible, the gravity of the composite will be above unity. By treating the combustible liquid in this fashion it may be made available for fire proof storageand may be made quenchable with water, aside ice . may be used to stabilize carbonaceous particles in liquid hydrocarbon a protecting from being safer to handle and use owing to a higher flash point. Both of these effects are produced by the addition of certain quantities of pulverized carbonaceous substance.

One may calculate with considerable precision the amount of carbonaceous substance necessary to raise the specific gravit of various liquids over that of water an also to raise the flash point. Practical tests have demonstrated the comparative accuracy of the theoretical calculations. To be quenchable by fresh or salt water a composlte, for instance of coal in oil, or like substances together should weigh about 8.70 lbs. per gallon. This gives an adequate margin of safety. The following table shows approximately the percentages of pulverized carbonaceous substances of various kinds required to raise the specific gravity of an oil whose specific gravity is .96 and whose whose weight is therefore 8.0 lbs. per gallon.

The manner of treating the liquid so as toincrease its gravity and raise its flash point may be briefly described as follows which is sufficient to enable those skilled to practice the invention. The carbonaceous substance should be reduced by pulverization or otherwise so that about 95% passes through 100 mesh screen and %v passes through a 200 mesh screen, unless particles are already ob tained so pulverized. 'Coals, charcoals, cokes, lignites and othe solid carbonaceous substances heavier thairiwater are all suitable. In order to stabilize the particles in the liquid so as to form acomposite of adequate stability subject to control, in the solution, colloid, or suspension states of dispersion or in any or all of these states, it is useful to use a protecting agent to prevent rapid separation. There are several protecting agents which may be employed. A preferred stabilizer or fixateur, so called, is a product of-the combination of lime and rosin, in the form of a grease, soap or powder, resinate of calcium. Another protecting substance which has a stabilizing'efl'ect and also a peptizing effect is aproduct of the distillation of coal, such as coal tar, creosote, naphthalene, solvent naphtha tar, or again partially or completely dehydrated water gas tar or oil gas tar. Finally there agent consisting of other liquid hydrocarbon immiscible with the first,-:;;" "for example tar in oil. It has been found that a combination of llqllid hydrocarbon and pulverized.

utessuflices.

treated in like fashion.

carbonaceous substance may be adequately stabilized and the stability be controlled within reasonable limits by the use of certain quantities of either or any of the above protecting agents or agents performing equivalent functions. If fixateur is used such an amount as will add from 1}% to 1-}% of rosin to the fuel will give notable sta-' bility. If from 5% to 20% of a coal distillate is used adequate stability will result. If from 10% to 30% of an immiscibleliquid hydrocarbon is used the stability will also be obtained. One alone or some of each of these protecting agents may be used.

The combining treatment is of importance for it is essential that homogeneity be prop-- erly obtained. The homogenizing treatment consists in blending the components in a coal pulverizing or paint mill or other blending apparatus, and sub'ecting the mixture to a heat of from 65 to 0., or blending them together without special heat treatment. The duration of the blending and heat treatment, either alone or together, varies according to the nature of the components. Proper heat treatment may take a considerable time, up to about three hours, when as protecting agent certain tars are used. Usually, however, a homogenizing treatment of about an hour and a blending treatment of a few min- The carbonaceous substance may be pulverized at the same time that the blending treatment is given, for pulverization in the liquid acts also to blend the components.

Most liquid hydrocarbons usable as combustibles for burning purposes may be so treated, either to raise the specific gravity or the flash point or both. Liquids heavier than water but lower in specific gravity' than the figure required to properly support a water seal may of course also be The liquid may be of a single variety or may be a blend of several varieties. In fact, the adjustment of the viscosity of a liquid by blending therewith other liquids is a well known practice. There are many other things that may be done with a liquid combustible or composite fuel to improve its qualities. These treatments may be combined, as in the case of logfiering viscosity with the treatment hereiifdescribed to raise the specific gravity and the flash point. The combination with the present process of further treatments for other purposes is contemplated and possible, and to be deemed covered hereby.

If it is desired to insure a high degree of stability and permanence of the composite a fixateur is to be used, alone or in combination' with other protecting agent. The pre- .ferred fixateur mentioned, a lime-rosin product', may be made in several different ways.

To make a grease of these ingredients with an oil carrier the approximate formula is as follows: Oil 83.5%, lime 5%, rosin 10%, and water 1.5%. Of this fixateur such an amount is used as will add the small percentage mentioned of the rosin to the fuel. To make this soap it is desirable to hydrate and slack the lime. Thereafter stir the lime with the oil and. heat to about 120 C. or to a lesser temperature above the melting point of rosin. Add the water and hold the heat for saponification. Melt the rosin and pour it into the hot lime-oil mixture. Stir the rosin into the lime and oil,

and finally run off the completed fixateur grease. This procedure may, of course, be varied.

When liquid combustible is treated with solid carbonaceous particles and with any of the several protecting agents, whose value, however, is not equal, the composite will be adequately stable according to the amount of the agent used and the nature of the components and of the treatment given. During the period of adequate stability, which may be days, weeks or months as desired and regulated, the oil and carbon particles do not separate to a noticeable or disadvantageous extent and during this period of life the components form a composite whose specific gravity remains practically and sufliciently uniform at a figure determined by the percentages of each of the components used and their respective gravities. Composites may be and have been made which carry a water seal over a year. When a water seal is desired for a brief period only, up to a few days, a protecting agent is not absolutely essential, for sedimentation or separation of the components at the natural rate is sufiiciently slow in the case of a viscous medium to enable the liquid to support water and have a higher flash point for a shorttime. In this case, however, the blending treatments may be usefully somewhat prolonged, but in any event the water seal can be only very temporary. It is of value to combine with the treatment of an ordinary mixture of coal and oil for example for brief combination, a viscosity increasing treatment so as to prolong the period of dispersion of the particles in the liquid.

Certain examples are hereafter given of oils treated in the manner indicated. It should be noted that more carbonaceous particles are conveniently added to the liquid combustible than the amount strictly necessary to enable a water seal to be maintained and the flash point raised. This is because the cost of the treatment is not much less to stabilize a small percentage of carbonaceous substance than a high percentage. Owing to the cheapness of solid carbons compared to combustible liquids under most circumstances, it will be found convenient to stabilize a relatively important percentage of the former in the latter. j

road oils, 1 1/2% fixateur, that is the rosin content of the fixateur, and 38 1/2% of anthracite rice. The specific gravity of the pressure still oil is .96 (8.0 lbs. per gallon) and its flash point in the open cup is 290 F. The open cup flash point is used in these illustrations as it is found more accurate than the closed cup in the case of a viscous composite of this character. The open cup flash point is usually from 12 F. to 22 F. above the closed cup figure. The specific gravity of the above described composite is 1.155 (9.62 lbs. per gallon) and its flash point in the open cup is between 300- F. and 340 F. Another composite liquid fuel consists of 22% Mexican reduced fuel oil, 28. 1% pressure still oil, 8 1/2% Navy oil, 3% wax tailings, 1 1/2% fixateur and 36.6% anthracite rice. The specific gravity and flash point of the Mexican oil and ofthe pressure still oil used in these examples 7 is the same, namely .96 and 290 F. respectively. The specific gravity of the com posite is 1.154 (9.62 lbs. per gallon), and the flash point is between 300 and 315 F. A third composite consists of 31.2% Mexican reduced fuel oil, 28.8% pressure still oil, 8 1/2% Navy fuel oil, 1 1/2% fixateur and 30% bituminous coal. The specific gravity of this Mexican oil is .96 but its flash point is 240 F. The specific gravity of the composite is 1.101 (9.18 lbs. per gallon) and its flash point is 266 F. Finally a composite in which 86.4% of bituminous coal is stabilized in Mexican oil of the above specific gravity and flash point last mentioned with the use of 1% fixateur, has a specific gravity of 1.0 19 (8.7 1 lbs. per gallon) and a flash point of 273.2 F. These composites all maintain a water seal-during their period of stability which is for several months. When a protecting agent is used the sta bility herein referred to means adequate stability indegree and duration for the period of time desired, within reasonable limits, during which no prejudicial sedi1nentation or settling occurs to prevent or terminate the ability of the composite to support water and to enjoy an elevated flash point. In the case of composites made up without a protecting agent the word stability is not employed, for sedimentation or separation occurs from the start and proceeds naturally. Until a certain amount of separation has occurred, the unprotected composite will support water, but speedily a film of oil rises to the surface so that only the submerged portion is fire proofed by a water seal and has a higher flash point.

Here-tofore solid coal screenings of grate sizes only have been stored in water for fire safety purposes. (The Storage of Bituminous Goal, Stock, University of Illinois Bulletin, March 4:, 1918, page 86.) But the fuel has materially deteriorated as a result of the contact with water which surrounds the coal. The oil or liquid combustible treated with minute coal particles as herein described remains on the contrary a separate stratum under the water and is in contact with the latter liquid only on the oils upper surface. There is no material fuel deterioration or loss of fuel qualities as a result of such storage, which protects the liquid or mobile fuel composite. By water seal is meant a separate layer or cover of water which overlies the upper surface of the combustible liquid and which is in contact with the latter only on that surface.

Having thus-stated the nature of my invention what I claim is:

1. That method of increasing the safety 1 against fire of a liquid combustible of relatively high freezing point by enabling it, for a brief period, to support a layer of water and to have a higher flash point, which consists in combining therewith such amount of solid carbonaceous substance in the form of particles as will raise the specific gravity above that of water and in such proportions as will produce a free flowing mixture.

2. That method of increasing the safety against fire of a liquid hydrocarbon by temporarily enabling it'to support a water seal and to have a higher flash point, which con-.

in stabilizing the particles therein with stabilizing substance.

4. That method of adapting a liquid hydrocarb'on to carry a water seal and of raising its flash point, which consists in adding thereto such amount of solid carbonaceous substance pulverized in liquid hydrocarbon of relatively high freezing point as will raise the specific gravity above that of Water, and in stabilizing the particles therein by blending the components with lime-rosin grease or equivalent protecting agent.

5. That method of producing a stable mobile fuel able to be fire proofed by'carrying a water seal upon its top which consists in combining a liquid hydrocarbon With pulverized solid carbonaceous substance and in stabilizing the components with the aid of lime-rosin grease or equivalent stabilizing substance.

6. That method of raising the specific gravity of a liquid hydrocarbon which consists in adding thereto pulverized solid carbonaceous substance and a small amount of a product containing rosin and lime and blending the components together to form a stable liquid fuel without destroying the li uidity of the said fuel.

7. That method of raising the specific gravity and flash point of a liquid hydrocarbon, which consists in adding thereto solid carbonaceous substance reduced to a mass of fine particles in the main above colloidal size and a relatively small quantity of rosin-lime soap or equivalent stabilizing substance, and blending the components together to form a stable liquid fuel.

8. That method of causing a liquid hydrocarbon to sink in water instead of float ing thereupon, which consists in raising its specific gravity above that of water by combining therewtih without destroying its atomizable character pulverized solid carbonaceous substance in an amount necessary to raise the specific gravity to a required degree and maintaining the particles in dis-' persed condition throughout the mixture by blending the components with a protecting agent.

, Signed at New .York city in the county of New York and State of New York this 3rd day of November A. D. 1919.

LINDON WALLACE BATES. 

